In hindsight, how much did you like your younger self? If present-you met your younger self (say, age 10) from an alternate timeline, do you think you could be friends? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 days ago by DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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This will not affect your original timeline.

And lets take take this hypothetical a step further:

Sceanrio 2:
Say, in the alt-timeline, present-you arrive in the year when past alt-you were 10 years old, your original parents/guardians/caretakers dies for some reason on this timeline, would you care enough about your alternate-self help them? Like take on the role of a parent/guardian in place of their now-dead parents? (Basically, its a roundabout way of asking: How much can you tolerate yourself?)

My answer:

I think I could probably remember enough of myself to understand my alt-self enough to become friends. But if their timeline got fucked up, and their parents die, I'm not sure I can actually deal with this kid who, is me, but not me, like... I would probably get so annoyed at this kid, but also, I'd think about myself when I was 10, when I was this kid, and then feel pity. Idk if I could ever abandon an alt-self, because I've already feel abandoned (not literally, but like as in terms of the emotional side of parental love that I never gotten), I wouldn't wanna see someone who is practically me, also go though the same abandonment.

Idk... Time travel is so weird.

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[-] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago

Nah, I don't think I'd choose to take on a 10-year-old with undiagnosed autism and ADHD, especially with the added pressure that he's me.

I think this question favours younger readers, and possibly more female readers (more young women are maternal than young men are paternal).

Also, at 46, I don't think I'd make a good friend to any 10 year old. I've been a good uncle to a few of them over the years, but that is not the same thing.

I hope I do not seem to be missing the point. I think I get it, but I'm saying that the logistics of it even if it's not me, but a kid who is like how I was, that would be challenging enough. But knowing it's me? That raises the stakes, and I don't see a good outcome.

this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2025

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